Yamhela Sold to Precept

By Wine Press Staff

Underscoring its growth strategy and marking its 10-year anniversary, Precept Wine Chief Executive Officer Andrew Browne announced, on May 14, the company’s purchase of Yamhela Vineyard, located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA (American Viticultural Area), just outside the town of Yamhill. Terms of the sale are undisclosed. 

“In pursuit of being the vineyard and winery leader over the next decade in the Northwest, we will continue to develop, acquire and grow our business working from a strong foundation of Northwest vineyards and wines with powerful brand names,” Browne said. “We are hunting for world-class sites that support this strategy, and Yamhela is a prime example within our Oregon portfolio.”

Originally conceived by its previous ownership, Pacific Vineyard Partners & Meriwether Farms, as a mixed-use site suited to vineyards, timber and real estate, Precept Wine Vice President of Vineyards David J. Minick says the company intends to focus on Yamhela’s premium vineyard potential. Precept will expand the 30 planted acres to a fully realized total of 120 over five years. The property has a total of 374 gross acres; its vineyard was first planted in 2007. Its neighboring vineyards are held in the highest esteem by local industry peers.

“Yamhela is perched on one of the finest sites for Pinot Noir in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Its neighbors, including the legendary Shea Vineyard, are among the most sought-after vineyards in Oregon,” said Tim Ramey, principal of Zenith Vineyard in Salem. “Precept Wine’s purchase of Yamhela is not its first venture in Oregon, but this will clearly be a cornerstone of the company’s Oregon strategy.”

By extension of Precept Wine’s ownership through the Baty family and the family’s Winemakers LLC holdings, its existing Oregon interests include 12th & Maple Wine Co. in Dundee and approximately 570 acres across four vineyards, Howell Prairie, Battle Creek, Waldo Hills and Roe, in the Willamette Valley. In Oregon, the Seattle-based company produces Battle Creek, Primarius and Windy Bay brands, all Pinot Noir. 

Precept, a top-20 North American wine producer, is the only known wine company to have vineyards and wineries in three Northwest states: Oregon, Washington and Idaho.